9 Disadvantages of Paraguay in 2026: The Honest Look (and How We Deal with Them)

You'll find articles everywhere praising Paraguay: territorial taxation, accessible residency, cost of living. We've written many of them, and we stand by it: we love this country and live here. But an expatriation choice should be made with open eyes. So here are the downsides of Paraguay, the real ones, seen from the field after more than 200 cases supported, and above all, how we manage them daily. You'll see: none are prohibitive, and some even hide an advantage.

1. Bureaucracy is slow and paperwork-heavy

It's true: in Paraguay, the administration loves paper, stamps, and queues. A trámite can take an entire morning, and rules sometimes change from one counter to another.

How we manage it: this is precisely our job. A well-prepared file goes through the first time; an improvised file goes back and forth three times. It's also the flip side of a pleasant reality: the Paraguayan administration is not very intrusive. It doesn't monitor you, doesn't drown you in declarative obligations, and once your papers are in order, it lets you live.

2. It's far from Europe

No direct flights from Paris: expect 15 to 20 hours of travel with a stopover (São Paulo, Madrid, or Buenos Aires) and a ticket booked in advance to get a good price.

How we manage it: stopovers are well-established, and connections are daily. And this distance is precisely what protects Paraguay: far from geopolitical tensions, far from European tax pressure, far from mass tourism. Many of our clients say after a year that "it's far" has become their favorite drawback.

3. Without Spanish, the beginnings are rough

English is little spoken outside business circles. Daily life mostly takes place in Spanish, tinged with Guarani.

How we manage it: Spanish is one of the easiest languages for a French speaker to learn, and Paraguayans are remarkably patient with those who try. Three months of immersion are enough to become autonomous. In the meantime, we assist our clients in all their endeavors, and our guide living in Paraguay without speaking Spanish details the transition period.

4. Summer is very hot

From December to February, the thermometer regularly exceeds 38-40 °C in Asunción, with noticeable humidity.

How we manage it: everything is air-conditioned — homes, cars, shops, offices. Paraguayans have lived with it forever: activities are shifted to the morning and evening, iced tereré is drunk, a national institution. And the flip side: no winter. From May to September, you experience days at 20-25 °C under the sun while Europe shivers.

5. Infrastructure is not European standard

Uneven secondary roads, occasional power outages during heatwaves, limited public transport: Paraguay does not have the infrastructure of France or Switzerland.

How we manage it: in practice, expat life is concentrated in Asunción and its surroundings, where residential areas are modern, fiber optic internet is excellent (a real asset for digital nomads), and private hospitals are of good quality. The country is developing rapidly, driven by solid growth — and this room for improvement is precisely what makes local real estate interesting: you arrive before everything is finished and expensive.

6. The local job market pays little

If your project is to seek local salaried employment, Paraguayan salaries are incomparable to those in Europe.

How we manage it: this is simply not the right use of Paraguay. The country is made for those who bring their income: freelancers, online entrepreneurs, investors, retirees. With the territoriality of Law 6380/2019, your foreign income is not taxed — and the low local cost of living transforms an average European income into an excellent standard of living.

7. Solvency is now verified

Since Resolution DNM 407/2026, Migraciones has tightened economic solvency proof for residency. The time when everyone could pass without serious justification is over — and many sites, including major industry players, have not yet updated this.

How we manage it: for a well-prepared file, it's a formality — and it's actually good news: the filter removes fanciful files and protects the reputation of the residency program, thus the value of your status. Our files are prepared according to current rules, with 100% acceptance.

8. Few French speakers, limited cultural life

No opera every night, a modest French-speaking community, a cultural offering incomparable to Paris or Brussels.

How we manage it: Paraguayan social life is warm and easily accessible — asados, football, extended family that quickly adopts you. The community of French-speaking expatriates grows every year (our clients can attest to this), and Buenos Aires, the cultural capital of the continent, is a 90-minute flight away for a weekend trip. Many discover that they are not losing a cultural life: they are gaining another.

9. The country is little known, sometimes poorly judged

Say "I'm going to Paraguay" at a dinner in France and you'll get perplexed looks, or even clichés about South America.

How we manage it: this lack of knowledge is your advantage. While everyone rushes to Dubai or Portugal (and these destinations become saturated and tighten their regulations), Paraguay remains discreet, stable, and accessible. The best informed arrive before the crowd. As for the country's actual safety, we dedicated a complete article to it: the truth beyond the clichés.

The honest verdict

Paraguay is not perfect, and those who sell it to you as a flawless paradise are lying. It's an emerging country, hot, distant, and administratively old school. But each of these drawbacks has a simple solution — and several conceal the very advantage that makes the country valuable: discretion, stability, territorial taxation, growth. The real question is not "does Paraguay have flaws?" but "do these flaws outweigh what you gain?" For our 200+ clients, the answer is clear.

FAQ: The disadvantages of Paraguay

Is Paraguay dangerous?

No, it's one of the safest countries in South America, with common-sense precautions applicable everywhere. Asunción's residential neighborhoods are quiet, and daily life there is peaceful.

Can you live in Paraguay without speaking Spanish?

At first, yes, with assistance, but Spanish quickly becomes necessary for daily life. The good news: it's a quick language for a French speaker to learn.

Is the heat bearable?

Yes. Summer (December-February) is very hot, but everything is air-conditioned, and the rest of the year offers superb weather, with no real winter.

Is the medical level sufficient?

Asunción's private hospitals offer a good level of care at much lower rates than in Europe. Private fee-for-service medicine remains affordable, even without insurance.

Are these disadvantages prohibitive for expatriation?

None. They require preparation and serious support, but for those whose income comes from abroad, Paraguay's advantages/disadvantages ratio remains one of the best in the world.

Come and see for yourself

The best way to judge a country is to set foot there. Residency can be obtained from €1,400, or €1,800 for an Express package that finalizes in a single 2-day trip on site. Write to us on WhatsApp at +595 971 362 302: we'll tell you honestly if Paraguay is right for you.